Valley to the Summit; The bridge of El Juncal (79 Km. from Tulcán) is the open door to the contagious happiness of the Blacks in the Chota Valley who dance to the rhythm of the Bomba (small drums) and show their culture thourgh humourous poetry and dances. From the surrounding area of Pimempiro, you can also see the mountain areas covered by fields of tomatoes and beans. 

In the valley you can travel part of the Chota river, discovering its beaches and fords while enjoying a healthy climate. You can also ask the locals to show you how they style their hair into dozens of little braids. 

At higher altitudes you can go fishing in the river Mataqui, or in one of its tributaries organize an excursion to Mirador del Campanario to get a view of the whole valley. Going to Shanshipamba you can see the small iglesia (a church) of the (miraculous) Virgen del Rosario or visit the estación piscicola "Mariano Acosta" (a fishing station) dedicated to raising fish. 

Undertake a long walk (five hours from Nueva America) to the laguna Puruhanta which is part of the Reserva Ecológica Cayarube Coca where you can fish and with your camera capture the best pictures of the mountain. 

In Chalguayacu (1.5 Km. from El Apical) you can see the traditional music band with natural instruments such as bases made from pumpkin shell fine string and the; traditional leaf of the orange; the bottle dance (during the dance the bottle is carried on the head without support); and the nunerous braided hairstyles of the local Blacks. The city of Pimampiro (7 Km.) the San Pedro temple and the old buildings in the area.

The stone carving of La Virgen del Rosario in Shanshipamba. The rivers Carchi and Imbabura which flow to the Chota Valley, you can see from one of the various took out points in the area. The look-out points, no doubt, you will love. 

Intervalley Route; leaving El Juncal going south, you can reach the varies de Chota, Satinas and Lita (valleys). 

The Chota River will accompany you through various Black communities such as Carpuela (16 Km.), Ambuqui (7 Km.), and Chota (16 Km.) The area is rich in folklore and because of the excellent climate, waterstides and swimming pools have been instated for your recreation. 

In Mascarilla (16 Km.) take the cobblestones sideroad which leads you to Satinas {30 Km.), named for the presence of salt in the ground. Here, curiously, one can also observe the cultivation and processing of sugar cane next to the rudimentary extraction and treatment of satt. 

The second class road which travels northwest will take you to the vane de Lita (a valley) with a constant change in scenery according to the ecological floor through which you are traveling. In Lita is the old train station and a river of the same name where the three provinces of Carchi Imbabura and Esmeraldas converge. 

In the Chota Valley you can learn verses or ballads while enjoying a walk on small farms and you may also visit tropical fruit plantations swim go up to the lookout points and of course learn the bomba dance. 

El Juncal; the Chota River going through the black communities; the lookout point of Socapamba (36 Km.) where the Salinas Valley divides; Tolas de Socapamba (37 Km.)-funerarial findings from preincarian peoples; Laguna de Yahuarcocha (in Qucchua language: Blood Lake) the name refering to the biggest confrontation between the areas inhabitants and the Incas and the lookout points of Yahuarcocha and Yuracruz (reached by going up a cobbkestoned road next to the lake. Here in this last location are the city limits of Ibarra which meet with the mn'íntains of imbabura and Cotacachi. 

Ibarra; known as the White City for having been the seat of the Spaniards in the colonial period the city owes its name to Miguel de Ibarra president of the Real Audencia which ordered Cristobal de Troya on September 28 1606 to establish the city.

The historic center of the city boasts buildings influenced by an eclectic style, for example, the Gobernación, the Palacio Arzobispal (Archbishop's Palace), the antiguo Colegio Teodoro Cómez de la Torre (a former high school) and iglesias (churches) such as the Cathedral, the Merced, San Agustin, Santo Domingo and Capilla Episcopal.

The snow topped montain of Cayernbe which can be seen southeast of the city. Visit traditional places in the city (esquina de coca - the coconut tree comer and San Juan Calle among others). 

You can also enjoy listnening to and admiring the music and folklore of Irnbaburian groups which play in differen lodging locations in the city and province. 

In Caranqui remain several vestiges of what was the big Templo al Sol and the Hacienda La Victoria where royalist and conservative forces fought in the Battle of Ibarra led by Sirnón Bolivar. 

Go for a walk to the Mirador of Nuracruz in order to take in the panoramic view of the city which is organized in a grid shape next to the Yahuarcocha laguna. 

In Caranqui (2 Km. from Ibarra) archeological artifacts of the Palacio del Sol the birthplace of Atahualpa (son of the Shyrian Princess Paccha and the Inca Huayna capac) and the iglesia del Señor del Amor (a church). 

Avenida de El Retorno (5 Krn.) and the town of La Esperanza - where inhabitants of nearby areas fled after the 1868 earthquake which devastated the province. The town even maintains its old buildings. Past La Esperanza are the tolas de Zuleta (ritual burial mounds of ancient peoples) (18 Km.) panoramic views from the Cunrru hills where you can see Ibarra and its surroundings. The Cunrru and San Pablo Lakes (38 Km.) are separated by areas overabundant in wheat fields and pine trees until the descent into Otavalo. Continue the route to the three Majanda lagunas: Caricocha, Guarmicocha and Yanacocha (17 Km.) from Otavalo.

Go through the Zuleta Hacienda (18 Km.), a colonial house of the former President of Ecuador, Galo Plaza Lasso. It has been converted into an artisian center (traditional embroideries) without having stopped the regular agricultural activities.

Travel around the lago San Pablo (a lake) (38 Km taking this route) visiting indigenous communities which occupy the land of the ancient peoples. The indigeneous inhabitants worship the mountain they call "Taita Imbabura". Practice water sports or attend the swimming competition which takes place every year in September during the fiesta del Yamor (the Yamor fair). 

Participate in the fiesta de San Juan (the San Juan fair) (June 24) which evokes the ancestral Anti Raymia; or the fiesta del sol (celebration of the sun) with old rituals that still remain. 

Travel down to Pucará Rey Loma (a hill next to the San Pablo Lake) which in addition to being archeological remains I in the fonm of terraces will also permit you to see the whole surrounding valley. 

Continue on the second class road which first connects Otavalo with the three lakes of Mojanda where you can stay to fish; then further on you will arrive in the province of Pichincha where after visiting the Tolas de Cochasqui (burial mownds) (30 Krn.) you can regain the Panamerican Highway in Tabucundo. 

Leaving from Zuleta if you follow the cobblestones road to Pesillo you can both take a small side trip to see and fish in the San Marcos Laguna and also travel to Cayambe in the Pinchincha Province. 

Otavalo; if artensanship is to your liking the route offers both artistic works and natural attractions. 

Visit the towns which continue to apply ancestral techniques in their artesanship using natural products: San Antonio de Ibarra (6 Km.) -wood carvings and stone sculptures; Tanguarin (7 Km.) - clay objects; San Roque (18.6 Km.) - looms for cabuya (a fine string) and wool where the entire artensanship process is shown; llumán (24 Km.) - felt hats; Carabuela (23 Km.) material of callúa (a natural fiber) and handicrafts in wool; Cotacachi - artisans of leather; Peguche - looms and wool handicrafts; Otavalo wool handicrafts; San Juan Pogyo -baskets made of straw; and Huaycopungo artisanship in totoras (a dried plant). 

These centers account for the artisanship production of the majority of indigenous communities of the area. 

Visit the towns of San Roque and Peguche where there is a waterfall of the same name flowing through woods o eucalyputus trees and plants used in neutral medicines. Thi is one of the indigerieous ceremonial sites where the San Juan Festival (June 24th) is started. 

Visit the cities which have been converted into the core of tourist and economic activities in the province. 

Atuntaqui; the industrial city of the province is located 125 Km. southwest of Ibarra. 

Cotacachi; from here you can see the Cotacachi volcano and its foolhitIs where the city was established. The iglesia matriz of Santa Ana (the citys principal church) where special rituals are celebrated for the Semana Santa (Saints Week) in April or May. With your camera you can also capture a panoramic view of Ibarra. 

Go into the artesian shops where you can buy handicrafts and other goods made of leather. Take the road that leads you to Cuicocha the only lake in Ibarra formed by a crater. You can take a boat trip which crosses the Canal del Ensucho going between the islotas (small islands) of Teodoro Wolf and Yerovi. 

If you like walks take the Gorky Campuzano path which circles the lake (four hours of walking). The path also has information about the lake engraved in stones. 

Another altemative is to climb to the peak of the Cotachi volcano or to take an excursion to the Piñan lagunas (Donoso Susacocha etc.) enjoying the green landscape while fishing and choosing angles for your photographs. Cotacachi can also be the starting point of an adventure to the area of Intag (go Km.) which you should not miss.

Intag Valley; investigate the biodiversity of the preserved woods La Florida walk up to natural look out points or visit Guatimám a strategic ceremonial pre-incan site which has pyramid shaped totes (burial mounds) with access ramps. You can also see archeological vestiges which are part of the smell archeological museum established here. Enjoy a thermal bath in Nanguivi or fish in the Rio Cristopamba (a river) and its tributaries. Observe the processing of cabuva.

Otavalo; old builings such as the Concejo Municipal (municipal Building) and the convento and iglesia de El Jordan (a convent and church) which has a facade of polyangular Incan origin.

Go through the Plaza El Centenario, known as "EI Mercado de Ponchos" where you can shop for handicrafts of the region and the country, especially.

Organize an excursion to the cascade de Peguche a waterfall where you will find picnic and recreation areas. 

Observe the creation of handicrafts in nearby communities such as Punyaro (zwo · straw handicrafts) and Huaycopwngo (esteras - handicrafts of a dried plant).